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 SMART
Leadership for Teachers
III. 1-6 Portugal Inquiry
A unique outreach of the SMART project and earlier OSAC-funded
science projects is underway in Portugal. Taking the lead in this
spin-off project, called the Portuguese Inquiry-Based Science
Initiative, is Blannie Curtis, Director of the Carlucci American
International School of Lisbon (CAISL) and two teachers, primary
teacher Christina Ridley-Thomas and upper elementary teacher, Tina
Centurio. Director Curtis, working with representatives of the
Portuguese Public Schools, wrote the Inquiry Proposal that was
funded by the Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon. The purpose of the
Inquiry-Based Science Initiative is to demonstrate and extend
Inquiry teaching and learning within Portuguese public schools,
grades 1-6.
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Instructors in the program include Dr. Ken Mechling and Dr. Vickie
Harry, both internationally-known science educators from Clarion,
Pennsylvania. Mechling and Harry reviewed the Portuguese Ministry of
Education science curriculum, selected and designed appropriate
grade level inquiry learning experiences, and modeled inquiry
teaching with children for teachers and administrators in Portuguese
public schools. Drs. Mechling and Harry were assisted by
Ridley-Thomas and Centurio, both are CAISL teachers and alumni of
SMART and other MAIS science programs. The CAISL teacher leaders
assisted in the design implementation of the project, assembled kits
of locally-obtained materials, made contacts and arranged visits to
selected Portuguese schools, and served as translators during the
instruction. All lesson plans, activity descriptions, and classroom
lesson presentations were translated from English into Portuguese.
A variety of inquiry-based science lessons were developed to
correspond with and enhance the Portuguese Ministry of Education
curriculum. Included by grade level are these examples: Grade
1--Sink or Float?, Grade 2--Investigating Snails, Grade
3--Investigating Magnets, Grade 4--Constructing Electrical Circuits,
Grade 5--Water and Experimenting with Water Taste, Grade 6--Human
Reaction Time and the Effects of Alcohol and Drugs. Another complete
set of Grades 1-6 inquiry lessons have been prepared and available
as alternatives should they be needed.
During the 2005-2006 year, 10 Portuguese schools will be targeted
for model inquiry science lessons. Four have already been visited.
They include Linho, Carnaxide, S.Joao Galiza, and Algueirao. Six
more schools will be visited in 2006, 3 in February and 3 in May.
Additionally, an information program will be held for Portuguese
scientists and educators at the Gulbenkian in Lisbon during February
and a Science Extravaganza will be at CAISL during May. CAISL and
Portuguese teachers and administrators will participate in the
latter event, each group presenting examples of inquiry in action.
This unique and innovative project, spawned by SMART and related
MAIS science programs, has a double benefit. Portuguese children and
their teachers have the opportunity to engage in and use inquiry as
a teaching-learning strategy. CAISL teachers, while serving as
leaders for this outreach project, use their new inquiry knowledge
and skills to improve their own curriculum for CAISL children. The
Inquiry Science Initiative is a win-win for CAISL and the Portuguese
schools. It is a way for CAISL to build bridges with regional
schools, share ideas and resources, foster exchanges, and enhance
good will.
Following are photos of the Portuguese Inquiry-Based Science
Initiative in action:
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This
is an early Portuguese Inquiry-Based Science Initiative
instructional staff planning session held at the Carlucci American
International School of Lisbon (CAISL). (L-R) Tina Centurio, CAISL
teacher leader, Dr. Ken Mechling and Dr. Vickie Harry, School
Science Services, Inc., Clarion, PA, and Christina Ridley-Thomas,
CAISL teacher leader. |
